Central Arizona College offering students greater accessibility by expanding its summer hours

PINAL COUNTY, Ariz. – Central Arizona College will remain open five days a week this summer and expand its daily operational hours starting Monday, May 12, at each of its nine campuses and centers throughout Pinal County.

The nine campuses and centers will be open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m.-6 p.m., with the exception of the Corporate Center in Casa Grande which also will be open on Saturdays.

Traditionally, Central Arizona College has moved to a four-day, 10-hour summer work schedule from Monday through Thursday. However, the college is in an evolutionary process of change with the goal to meet the needs of the community.

“Higher education has become an extremely competitive market,” President Dennis Jenkins said. “We need to be better prepared to compete in that market by giving our students and the residents of Pinal County greater access to the college’s resources.”

By expanding hours during the week and staying open on Fridays, the college is providing an opportunity for students to access in-person information at a time that may be more convenient.

“By opening college services at 7 a.m., we are allowing students and those who interact with the institution an opportunity to be on campus before the normal professional work day begins,” Jenkins explained. “By staying open until 6 p.m., students have a chance to stop by a campus or center on their way home from their jobs.”

Departments within the college are developing staggered employee schedules to cover the expanded hours without increasing operating costs.

Based upon the needs of the department, some employees will work four 10-hour days, while others may choose to work the traditional five-day work week.

“This really can be a win-win situation for the students, the community and the employees,” Jenkins explained. “It makes Central Arizona College more flexible.”